Photo"Field"Shoot

I recently had my own photo-shoot with this sweet, sweet baby.  

Trying to figure out f-stops, aperture, and shutter speed - HUH?!  

I figure no better time to learn than NOW, so here we go!

Shooting in Manual mode is confusing.  

So far I have read the same tips over and over and it still doesn't make sense to my noggin. 

Any good photography books or blogs recommended for this novice?  

2nd Annual *Team Field* American Heart Association

The American Heart Association will be having its annual Heart Walk in San Antonio on Saturday, October 22, 2011. 

We are forming our second annual Team Field to honor and support our precious miracle.  We would be honored for all San Antonians to join us!  

The event is FREE and if you would like to make a donation to the American Heart Association in honor of Team Field you can do so when you sign up on the website. All money raised goes to the American Heart Association to help support research, education and advocacy for heart issues including congenital heart defects.  

You can simply join our team to show your support (even if you can't make the actual event), you can join the team and come walk with us on October 22 (we'd love to see you!), or you may do all of the above and also get others to support you in your walk by making donations to your personal webpage.    

Last year, in a matter of just 6 short weeks, our team recruited 80 members and raised $2,704!  This year, we have a goal of raising $3,000 and I have no doubt that we will reach that goal.

The walk details are below:

Saturday, October 22

8:00 AM Opening Ceremonies 

9:00 AM Heart Walk Begins!

(*The route is 3.1 miles with water stations along the way.  Strollers and wagons are welcome!)

Brackenridge Park Joske Pavilion

The following link can be used to join the team:

http://heartwalk.kintera.org/sanantoniotx/teamfield

When you get to the team page for Team Field, you will click on "Join Our Team."

I will send more details to those who join the team as the walk gets closer and we will meet and walk together with our precious Feisty Fightin' Field Johnson!   

Thank you for supporting such a wonderful cause that is so dear to our HEARTS!  It means the world to our family to have your love and support.

Absolutely Amazing

Tonight a link was posted by a few heart mama friends (Thank you Andrea and Jenny!) on their Facebook pages and lo and behold it was a video about Dr. Charles Fraser (Field's heart surgeon) and the Heart Center at Texas Children's Hospital in Houston, Texas where we receive treatment for Field and his CHD.

Here is a glimpse into the life of CHD'S.

Here is a glimpse of...
- The Pediatric Intensive Care Unit where Field spent 7 days post-op back in January
- The hallways where we stood and waited, paced, and cried
- The conference room where we discussed Field's surgery with shaking hands and trembling voices
- The nurses, doctors, and medical professionals that helped take care of Field - and us! (Seriously, I bet more than half of their time was spent explaining things to Brad and I.  We asked questions about everything.  Bless them for being so patient with us!)

Here is also a glimpse of...
- How very serious, difficult, and devastating CHD's are....but at the same time, the amount of HOPE for ALL babies born with CHD's.

And sadly, here is a glimpse of the place where we will do it all over again when Field turns 3.

DISCLAIMER - Parts of the video are quite graphic and of course, quite emotional.  Watch at your own discretion.  :)

Click here to watch the video.

My favorite part of the video:  Dr. Fraser saying how important tenacity is for all congenital heart surgeons.  If the surgery takes 10 hours, well then it takes 10 hours (ours took about 8 hours!) and if the surgery wasn't quite right the first time then have the courage to go and do it again (which happened to us!).

I cannot express how grateful I am for TCH and to the Lord for placing us in the very best hands - Dr. Charles Fraser.  I loved seeing his sweet nurse practitioners, fellows, and co-workers in the video.  Every single person in that video was a familiar face and they are truly miracle workers.

Thanks for the great video TCH...We'll see you in 2 years!

And to end this post titled, "Absolutely Amazing" - Field took his first unassisted steps today!

Absolutely Amazing.  

For you make me glad by your deeds, O LORD; I sing for joy at the works of your hands.  Psalm 92:4

Cousin Time

Over Memorial Day weekend, we traveled to Atlanta for cousin Dana's wedding.  We flew out on Friday morning and came back Sunday afternoon.  A very quick trip that was jam packed with lots of fun family time.  The hubs has family on both his mom and dad's side in Atlanta so we got in visits with lots of wonderful family members.  Most family members had never met Field so it was great to introduce him to the fam.

It started out with the rehearsal dinner in Atlanta.  Lots of fun with cousins!  On Saturday morning, we went out to Marietta to visit with my FIL's family.  Sadly, I forgot my camera so I only have a few iPhone pics.

Saturday afternoon was the wedding and Field had his first debut as a ringbearer.  He was fantastic!

Brad and Field with the beautiful bride!

The reception was an absolute blast.  Field LOVED the music and dancing with mommy, daddy, Nonnie, and Granddaddy.

The flights were great.  We had direct flights and the flight was about 2.5 hours.  Not bad at all!  On the way there, Field stayed awake the entire time.  Yes, it was naptime.  Yes, he was tired.  But the air vents, light buttons, windows, etc. provided too much entertainment for him to sit and go to sleep.  As soon as we deboarded the plane and loaded him up in the stroller, he passed out.  Good thing that rental car line was long because he was able to get in a 45 minute nap, which ended up being his only nap of the day.

And while we are on the subject of cousins, we also attended a family reunion a few weekends later with my MIL's family.  More fun time with cousins!

Lots of boys and only two girls!

These sweet girls LOVED taking care of Field.  

Can you tell these kiddos come from a long lineage of Longhorns?!?

Family time is such a blessing!

4th of July Fun

We headed down to Port Aransas last Friday for a 4 day weekend (woo hoo!) with some fun in the sun and lots of time with good friends and family.  My family has taken a summer trip with the same 9 families for over 30 years!  The group started out with 9 young men who were on a softball team together.  The wives would come watch them play and a fast friendship developed.  Over the past 30+ years, these couples have had children and now many, many grandchildren.  This year, our "Group Trip" was as large as 70 people and we had the best time in Port A together!  I love that we have been friends with these families since we were all born and our parents have been friends since they were in their early 20's.  A very special trip with very special friends.

Here are some pics from a fun filled weekend...

Daddy and Field in the ocean.

Field playing in the baby pool on the beach with friends.

Splashing and putting his toesies in the water.

Napping in his Pack N Play on the beach...this is the life!

Us in our matching t-shirts

My family

Lounging on the beach

Michael and Sanders with Brad and Field = best buddies!

We had over 7 tents for all 70 people on the beach.  So fun!

Yummy hot dogs on the grill for a patriotic lunch.  

Field with his sweet cousins.  

Hope you all had a great 4th!